Health woes for cancer survivors

500,000 cancer survivors are living with debilitating consequences of the disease, Macmillan Cancer Support has warned. They are suffering from pain, chronic fatigue, bowel and urinary problems, mental health issues and sexual difficulties, it says.

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NHS England said a report that 500,000 cancer survivors are living with debilitating consequences of the disease draws attention to the "changing nature" of the challenges the NHS has to meet.

NHS England said the report by Macmillan Cancer Support shows the 'changing nature' of the challenges. Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

A spokesman said, "This is why we have launched a 'call to action' as we need to engage the public and professions in a dialogue about how we create an NHS that meets people's need in a personal way and is fit for the future rather than based on a 20th Century model."

Progress in cancer survival is a "double-edged sword", Macmillan Cancer Support has said.

The charity's chief medical officer, Professor Jane Maher, said: "Put simply, the better we get at treating and curing cancer patients, the more people we will have living with the long-term effects of cancer and its treatment.

Macmillian Cancer Support said cancer survival is a 'double-edged sword'. Credit: Macmillan Cancer Support

"Many of these problems can be managed using simple and inexpensive interventions by health professionals, while other more complex issues require specialist services.